Packaging machine



Jan. 19, 1937.

A. M. GOLDSTEIN r AL 2,068,407

PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9; 1929 INVENTORS M5511 M. Gazoarsnu I Mayra GARn/mn.

BY E m ATTORNEY Jan. 19,: 1937.

A. M. GOLDSTEIN ET PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Fb. s, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NVENTORS Ausznr M. GOLDBTEIN MI YER Gnnrmxn.

B 5am ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1937. A; M. GOLDSTEIN ET AL PACKAGING MACHINE FiIedFeb, 9, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 N sum .RT Y 05 E mwm m 0F W m GM R mm? A L BMW 19, 1937- A. M. GbLDSTElN E1- AL 2,068,407

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed'Feb. 9, 1929 s-sheets-sheet 4 I NVENTOR 5 ATTOR NFY A -B ERT M GOLD STEIN B g YER GARFINKEL Jan; 1937- A. M. GOLDSTEIN ET AL 2,668,407

PACKAGING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 9, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS Amaze-:- m Gem sT'Euv MAYER GHRFIAIKEL ATTORNEY Patented Jim. 19, 1931 UNITED STATES PACKAGING MACHINE Albert M. Goldstein, Far Rockaway, and Mayer Garfinkel, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to Sanita Wrapped Products Corp., New York, N. Y.

Application February 9, 1929, Serial No. $38,744

53 Claims.

Our invention relates to packaging machines of a type especially adapted to handle straws, tooth picks or similar articles, to enclose a predetermined number of them within a tube and thereafter to seal the ends of the tube in a continuous series of operations which take place automatically and under the most improved sanitary conditions.

The embodiment of the invention, which will hereinafter be described, is especially constructed to package so-called drinking straws of the type used in connection with soda and soft drink dispensaries, but it will be clear that it will only require a' change in the dimensions of certain instrunientalities of the invention to accommodate tooth picks orother articles either smaller or larger than the straws without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention.

According to well known types of straw packaging machines it is the usual practice first to form a tube of paper in a tube forming machine, then to seal one end thereof and thereafter to insert the straws into the preformed tubes, which are then sealed at their other ends. Due to the large number of operations required to successfully carry out the packaging of straws by this means, the machines have been exceedingly complicated in structure and as a consequence extremely expensive to produce and maintain in repair. The main reason for the complications, it is believed, is in the mechanism required preparatory to inserting the straws into the preformed tubes, which must be distorted to receive the ends of the straws and otherwise undergo va- 35 rious manipulations before the contents finally reach a point where the ends of the tube may be sealed.

With the foregoing in mind it is the principal object of our invention to provide a packaging 40 device of the character embodying certain novel instrumentalitles adapted to form the container in the shape of a continuous tube, which advances over a; predetermined number of the straws,

the tube cutter and associated parts for operating it and advancing the tube over the straws.

Referring to the drawings in detail, III denotes the articles to be packaged, namely the straws, which are deposited in a hopper ll composed of upright end and front walls l2 and an inclined rear and bottom wall l3. The lower end, as well as the upper end of the hopper H,

is open to enable the straws ill to be placed there in through the top and discharged at the bottom opening into a rotary conveyor l4 above which the hopper is supported by means of upright standards l5a attached at their upper ends to the endwalls I2 and at their lower ends to the surface of a fiat bed plate l6. The rotary conveyor I4 comprises a cylindrical member the periphery of which is corrugated to provide parallel longitudinally disposed grooves or compartments l5 to retain the straws l0 dur- 0 ing the movement thereover of the tubular receptacle to be described and the crimping operation to close the ends of such receptacle. As illustrated particularly in Figures 3 and 4, a transverse section of each groove l5 comprises a convex bottom wall and slightly converging side walls which join the peripheral surface of the conveyor; The conveyor I4 is supported on and turns with an intermittently rotating shaft H, which is journalled in bearings [8 on upright spaced standards l9, and which carries on one end beyond the standard I9 a ratchet wheel 20. The length of the conveyor i4 is shorter than the corresponding length of the hopper H, at least by the combined widths of fixed gauge plate 2| and adjustable stop plate 22 arranged at each end of the cylinder.

The gauge plates 2| are disposed to limit the number of straws Hi to two for each compartment l5 and each plate comprises a 'segmentally shaped member having a hub portion 23 loosely mountedon the shaft I1 and an inwardly directed marginal portion and rim 24 having its periphery concentric with the periphery of the-conveyor from the end of which it is spaced the distance of the thickness of the stop plate 22, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The periphery of the gauge plate 2| brings the surface slightly above or radially beyond the bottoms of the grooves I5 so that when the straws gravitate thereinto while in the hopper H, only sufficient room is provided between the peripheries of the gauge plates 2| and that of the conveyor to accommodate two straws, as illustrated in Figure i. Of course it will be understood that corresponding arrangement is contemplated for the use of only one instead of two straws if desired.

In the event the packaging machine is to be run for tests or to bring the tube forming mechanism into proper adjustment without feeding straws to the conveyor, the stop plates 22 are utilized and each thereof comprises a segmental member interposed between the cylinder end and the adjacent gauge plate 2| and capable of radial adjustment so as to bring its peripheral surface or end into coincidence with the peripheryof the conveyor to close the end of the grooves and thus support the ends of the straws Hi from dropping into the grooves and being conveyed outside the hopper.

The stop plates 22 are entirely supported on their adjacent gauge plates 2!! and the support comprises a pin 25 having a screw 26 on its inner end to project through a radial slot 2! in the stop plate 22 and clamp the latter to the pin. The' other end of the pin 25 is slidably arranged in a radial slot 28 of the gauge plate 29 and carries a roller 29, the extreme of the pin beyond the roller being adapted to receive one end of a spring 35, the other end projecting in a line with the slot 28 and attached to a pin 3i on the gauge plate adjacent the hub thereof. Between the roller 29 and pin 35 and disposed rearwardly of the radial line of the slot 28 is a pivot pin 32 upon which is mounted the end of a lifting lever 33 which is provided with a cam surface operating to lift the roller 25 and stop plate 22 when the lever 33 is raised. Raising the lever 33 far enough will cause the cam to pass under the roller and hold it and theplate projected against the action of the spring 30.

The tubes and their straws iii are held in the grooves l5 of the conveyor, from the hopper II to a, point of delivery, by a curved shield 34, which is spaced slightly from the periphery of the conveyor, and which is supported on arms 35 projecting from portions of the standards i9.

Intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the conveyor id, as previously stated, through the ratchet wheel 20, and such motion is effected by a spring actuated pawl 36 which is pivotally carried at the end of an arm 31 and yieldably held in engagement with the ratchet wheel 20 by means of a spring 38. The arm 31 is pivotally carried at its mid portion on a stud shaft 39 projecting towards the conveyor from a standard 40, the latter being mounted on the bed plate IS. The end of the arm 3'! beyond its pivot carries a follower and which is yieldably held in contact with a cam 4| by means of a spring 42. The cam H is fixed on a continuously rotating power shaft 43 and is provided with one high point thereby causing one forward movement of the conveyor id for each rotation of the shaft 43. The power shaft 43 receives its rotary movement through a spur gear 44 carried at its end and in mesh with a pinion gear 45 which is mounted on a shaft 46 having its bearings in a yoke shaped standard 41 and projecting outwardly therefrom to carry a fixed and a loose pulley 48, and a fly wheel 49.

A belt 50 is used to drive the pulleys 48 and a belt shifter 5| controlled by a lever 52 operates on the belt 50 to shift the same from one to the other of the pulleys. A motor not illustrated is employed to carry and drive the belt, the motor being located preferably beneath the bed plate 16.

The power shaft 43 projects longitudinally from one end of-the machine to the other adjacent the rear edge of the bed plate I6 upon which it is supported in bearings 53.

Referring again to the conveyor i4, it has been described that itsrotary movement is intermittent, such movement being for the purpose of bringing each groove l5 into a certain position of rest just outside of the hopper l l, in the direction of movement of the conveyor, which movement is clockwise when considered as viewed from the left. This position of rest will be referred'to hereinafter as the wrapping station. Therefore at this station there is a common axis which not only coincides with the longitudinal axis but is the axis about which the tubular wrapper is to be formed and along which it is advanced to its wrapping position. As-the conveyor l4 pauses in its rotary movement and a pair of straws ID are supported in stationary position at the wrapping station, they project beyond opposite ends of the conveyor cylinder, but as the wrapper in the form of a tube 54 advances to meet the ends of the two straws and continues to move over and enclose them, there is sufiicient frictional engagement between the moving inner surface of the tube 54 and the straws ID to cause the latter to gradually be carried longitudinally in the direction of movement of the said advancing tube. To arrest this movement of the straws, a stop plate 55 is attached to the side of the hopper H and projects across the axis of the wrapping station and consequently in the path of the straws, which no longer being able to move, receive the wrapper which continues to move thereover. The tube 54, in a manner hereinafter described, is severed during its forming operation and advanced to a position enclosing all of the straws except the ends adjacent the stop plate 55. The operation at the wrapping station having been completed, the conveyor is again stepped ahead to bring the next groove into co-alinement with the axis of the wrapping station. The straws enclosed in their wrappers being held in the grooves by the plate or shield 34, reach a point at which they are pushed within the tube, 1. e. the straws are returned to a position corresponding to their location before the tube was advanced thereover. The mechanism accomplishing this movement of the straws into the tube 54 comprises a short rod 56 adjustably carried by a block 51, the latter being mounted on an axially reciprocating shaft 58. The rod-55 is alined with the axis of the tube and consequently when moved toward the latter abuts both straws. The reciprocating movement is imparted to the shaft 58 by means of a horizontallydisposed pivoted lever 59, one end of which is attached to the shaft 58, while its pivot 60 is arranged adjacent the other end so that the arcuate movement of the attached end of the lever is along an almost straight line. A small play is provided in the connection between the lever and shaft to take care of whatever deviation from the straight line is described by the end of the lever. The shaft 58 is guided in a bearing 6| forming an integral extension of the standard Hi, the bearing 6| being provided with a slot to accommodate a pin projecting from the longer end of the lever 59. through the slot and into the shaft 50. The shorter end of the lever 59, projecting towards the power shaft 48 is provided at its freefend with a roller follower 82 which is yieldably held in engagement with the surface of a cam by a spring 84 disposed at its ends between the shorter end of the lever 58 and a fixed post 85 projecting upright from the bed plate IS. The cam 88 is fixed on the power shaft 43 adjacent the tam 4| and comprises a disc rotating in upright position and provided with a short high point 68, which is disposed to engage the roller 62 during a rest period of the conveyor or at a time just subsequent to the interval during which the high point of the cam H has completed its effect upon the arm 31,

pawl 86 and ratchet wheel 20 to advance the conveyor from one rest position to the next.

Subsequent to the operation of the pusher or' rod 58 to center the straws III in the tubular wrapper and duringthe conveying movement of the cylinder H, the ends of the tube beyond the ends of the straws are subjected to the operation of two sets of so called crimping rollers 61, one roller of each set being mounted on a shaft 68 which is mounted adjacent its opposite ends in suitable bearings 68 in the standards 19. The other roller of each set is rotatably mounted at the upper end of a lever 10 which is pivotally carried at its mid portion on a pin 1| projecting from the inside face of the standard l9. Tension is exerted at the lower end of the lever 18 to urge the crimping roller at the other end yieldably into operative relation with the other roller of the same set. Crimping devices of this character are well known and are now used to seal the ends of the tube wrappers such as those contemplated for use in the present invention. A spring 12 is used to, tension the lever 18, one end of the spring being attached to the lower end of the lever while the other end is fixed in a rod 13 projecting from an upstanding plate 14 on the bed plate IS. The other end of the rod projects through and beyond the plate where it is threaded and carries a thumb nut 15, which, adjustable as it is over the rod 13, operates to set the latter at predetermined distances from the lever itself, whereuponthe spring tension on the lever is variable.

It is understood that the actual crimping action on the ends of the tubes takes place by rotary motion of the crimping rollers 61 and during traverse of the said ends between the crimping rollers of each set. Rotary motion is imparted to the rollers on the shaft 88 through a gear connection comprising a large spur gear 15 mounted on and turning with the conveyor shaft l1 between the ratchet wheel 20 and standard l9, as illustrated in Figure 1, and a pinion gear 16 in mesh with gear 15 and mounted on the end of the shaft 68. According to this construction the intermittent rotary motion of the conveyor shaft I1 is participated in by the spur gear 15, which being of so much greater diameter. than that of the pinion gear .18 causes the latter and crimping wheel shaft 88 to rotate with corresponding speed.

An ejecting attachment is incorporated in the machine to guide the sealed wrappers out of their respective grooves in the conveyor subsequent to the end sealing operation. The lower end of the conveyor shield plate 34 projects to a line just below the line on which the end crimping rollers operate on the tubes, so that as the conveyor carries the wrapped straws downwardly from under the shield the normal tendency of the packages is to drop out of their grooves in the conveyor. To insure this discharge a pair of arms 11 are mounted on a rocker beam [8 so as to bring their free ends on an elevation above that of the ends of the wrapper when the latter is being conveyed out from under the shield. The rocker beam 18 comprises a shaft mounted in bearings I8 arranged closely to the surface of the bed plate It and having radial arms 80 projecting toward the front of the machine. The elevation of the free ends of the ejecting arms 11 is timed so as to move into positions at opposite ends of the conveyor above the discharging groove l5, just as the conveyor is about to move a step ahead. The rocking motion is imparted to the beam 18 by means of a cam 8| mounted and turning with the power shaft 43 and located thereon along a portion projecting in the rear of the conveyor, which cam 8| engages a follower roller 82 carried adjacent the mid portion of an arm 83 fixed at one end to the beam 18. The high portion of the cam 8| holds the ejectors in their uppermost positions during the rotary movement of the conveyor so that the wrapped articles will have their ends moved under the free ends of the arms TI and during continued rotation of the conveyor the wrapped articles It has been found in practice that the straws In in the hopper I I do not always gravitate to the bottom thereof in proper positions to edge their way intothe grooves l5 and in order to more or less arrange the straws over the grooves we provide a pair of rotary brushes 84, turning in a direction the same as that taken by the conveyor -and brushing the surface thereof as 11- lustratively exemplified in Figure 3. The brushes 84 are arranged adjacent opposite ends of the hopper and are carried by a shaft 85, which has its bearings in the end walls l2 and which projects outside thehopper at one end to carry a pulley 86. A belt 8! drives the pulley 86 from a second pulley 88 keyed to the power shaft 43. The belt 81 is crossed to drive the pulleyBB and brushes 84 in the same direction as the conveyor itself. Shields 89 are attached to the front wall of the hopper II in positions to embrace the projecting it over the straws l8, particular reference will be had to Figures 2, 6 and 8. The tubesv 54, as is well known, are formed by curving a web of narrow paper 98 longitudinally upon itself so that its sides overlappingly engage. The web 98 is drawn from a roll and the shaping is done in a die 9| through which it passes on the way to a crimping roller 92. The roller 92 is continuously driven during operation of the machine through a shaft 93, worm connection 94, and shaft 95 which is driven through a train of gears 96 by the power shaft 43. The tubular wrappers, as previously stated, are formed along the axis of the wrapping station and, as shown clearly in Figure 6, a substantial space is provided in the wrapping station between the crimping roller 92 or the rear of the wrapper and the ends of the straws being held in the station. In this space a severing device is mounted and operated to first over the straws at a speed greater than the speed of the following tube being formed by the crimping roller 92.

The mechanism for effecting the severing and pushing operation comprises a pair of shears 91, illustrated in detail in Figure 8. The shears 91 are supported at their pivotal connection on a bracket 98 carried at one upright side of a slide rod 99 which is square in transverse section and. mounted to reciprocate longitudinally in a guideway disposed in the upper portion of a standard I00, the latter being arranged to carry the crimping roller shaft bearings IOI of the shafts 93 and 95. The shears 91 comprise the ordinary cutting blades terminating, on the opposite side of their pivot screw I02, in rearwardly projecting extensions I03 and I04, lower extension I03 being straight and forming part of the uppermost blade, while the extension I04 is a part of the lower blade and projects upwardly and rearwardly at an inclination and then straight back to a position directly over the lower extension I03. The normal tendency of the blades is to close and the means used is a spring I05 which is connected at its lower end to the lower extension I03 and at its upper end to a post I06 projecting upright from the end of the upper extension. The tension of the spring I05 is, therefore, exerted to pull the extensions toward each other. The shears 91 are operated along a path taken by the tubes 54 between the crimping roller 92 and the receiving end of the conveying cylinder I4, that is to say, the blades are arranged so that one is above the tube and the other beneath. When the blades are open, the tube being formed merely travels along between them, but when released to closed position under the tension of the spring I05, the blades sever the tube transversely thereof. By a longitudinal movement of the blades more rapid than that of the normal movement of the tube, the severed portion partly enclosing the straws I0 is advanced to its final position in the groove of the conveyor by the closed shears. The means used to release the shears 91 and permit them to remain closed until the tube is pushed home comprises a two armed rocker plate Iflldisposed in upright position closely adjacent the vertical plane of the two extensions I03 and I04 of the shears. The plate I0! is mounted at its center on a longitudinal reciprocating rock shaft I00, which is carried at one end by a bearing I09 attached to the free end of the square slide rod 99 and on the upright side thereof opposite that occupied by the first bracket 98. Each of the ends of the plate I01 carries a roller H9, one thereof engaging the extensions I03 and I94 just rearwardly of the pivotal connection and the other roller IIO engaging under the free end of the upper extension I04.

The shaft I08 beyond the bearing I09 in the direction opposite that taken by the tube being formed, projects into the bore of an oscillating tubular member I I I, which turns in a'bearing II2 mounted on the standard I00, and which is provided with a slot H3 disposed longitudinally along its side to accommodate a stop and guide pin II4 fixed to the shaft I09 which slides in the tubular member II I II3 corresponds with the longitudinal movement of the shaft I08 necessary to push the tube the distance between the point of shearing' and the home position in' the wrapping station. The pin II4 operates to limit the longitudinal movement of the shaft I08 and to impart the partial rotation thereto from the tubular member III.

0n the end of the tubular member III beyond The length of the slot its bearing II2 an arm H5 is mounted. The arm II5 projects forwardly of the axis of the member III and is attached to the upper end of a link II6, the lower end thereof being connected to the end of a lever III, which projects toward the power shaft 43, and which is pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end on a pivotal mounting I I8, also formed as an integral part of the standard I00. The end of the lever II'I beyond the pivot carries a roller II9 which is yieldably held down upon a cam I20 by a spring I2I disposed between the lever on the rear portion beyond the pivot and the bed plate. The cam I20 is keyed to the power shaft 43 and its lower portion allows the follower to drop suddenly, which motion is transmitted through lever I I1, link- III; and tubular member III, finally rocking shaft I08 to release the shears 91 and permit them to close about the advancing tube. The severing operation takes place when the shears 9'! have been withdrawn with the slide rod 99 to a position closely adjacent the crimping roller 92.

The slide rod 99 projects through the upper portion of the standard I00 and outwardly at the right side thereof. As illustrated clearly in Figure 2, the projecting end of the rod 99 is forked and provided with curved slots I22 through which a bolt I23 projects. Between the ends of the fork the upper end of an upright lever I24 is mounted on the bolt I23. the lever I24 is pivotally mounted on a pin i25 projecting from the rear face of an extension of the lower portion of the standard I00 and at an elevation above the pivot I25 the lever I24 carries on its rear face a roller follower which is disposed in the path of a cam I27, the roller I26 being held in contact with the cam by a spring I27a which tends to urge the shears yieldably towards the conveyor. The cam i2? is mounted on a cam shaft I28 disposed counter to the power shaft 43 and projecting between upright portions of the standard I 00. Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft I28 by a pair of miter gears I29 one thereof being mounted on the endof the shaft I28 and the other on the power shaft 43, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6.

The operation of the machine, which has been described in detail in the foregoing description, is summarized in the following: Assume that the conveyor I4 has been operated a sufficient number of steps to fill its grooves I5 with straws I0, and that the first groove I5 of the conveyor M has been brought to rest in the line of the so called wrapping station, and in the present instance contains two straws I0 with their opposite ends projecting beyond the opposite ends of the groove, as illustrated in Figure 7. movement of the conveyor I4 and in fact continuously throughout the operation of the machine, the paper web 90 is being folded, crimped by the roller 92 and fed in the direction of the conveyor I4. Perfect alinement of the groove I5 and tube at the wrapping station is essential and further care must be taken to provide the inner diameter of the tube of a dimension very slightly greater than the combined diameters of the two straws I0 so that, as the tube advances, it may envelop the projecting ends of the straws and continue to travel longitudinally thereof until the greater portion of the tube is inside the groove I5. Contact of the wall of the tube with those of the straws being enveloped causes the latter to follow the movement of the oncoming tube for a short distance or until the opposite The lower end of 3 ill During the ing portion of the oncoming tube the severed wrapper is moved out of the way of the latter and driven home over the straws.

Step by step, thev conveyor l4 carries the enclosed straws I and wrappers 54 to a point where the pusher rod 56 pushes the projecting ends of the straws back into the center of their wrapper. The next step of the conveyor brings the ends of the wrapper beyond the ends of the straws into the path of the crimping rollers 61, which close and seal the wrapper ends during movement of the conveyor from one position of rest to the next. As a final operation, the ejector arms I1, having been raised to positions above the groove on opposite ends of the conveyor cylinder, are in position above the wrapper and, during the next conveying movement of the conveyor the wrapper is carried from beneath the shield plate 34 and forced downwardly out of its groove l by the inclination of the arms 11 with respect to the relative path of movement of the groove.

, Having now described our invention and the manner in which the same operates what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for packaging articles, the combination of means for forming a continuous tubular wrapper, means for conveying the. articles into position to be enveloped by the oncoming wrapper, means for cutting oil the wrapper during movement thereof over the articles, and means for simultaneously closing both ends of the wrapper.

2. In a machine for packaging articles, the combination of means for forming a continuous tubular wrapper, means for conveying the articles into position with their ends protruding to be enveloped by the oncoming wrapper, means for cutting off the wrapper during movement thereof over the articles, means for centering the articles in the wrapper, and means for simultaneously closing 'both ends of the wrapper.

3. In a machine-for packaging articles, the combination of means for forming a continuous tubular wrapper, a hopper to hold the articles,

means for conveying the articles from the hopper into position with" their endsv protruding to be envelopedvby the oncoming wrapper, means for cutting off the wrapper during movement thereof over the articles, means for centering the articles inside the wrapper, and means for simultaneously closing both ends 01' the wrapper.

4. In a machine for packaging articles in tubular receptacles, means for supporting said articles with their ends positioned so that the receptacles may be advanced over said ends, means for advancing the receptacles over said ends of the articles, and means for simultaneously closing both ends of the receptacles.

5. In a.machine for packaging articles in tubular receptacles, means for supporting the mid portion of the articles with the ends of the latter projecting so that the receptacles may be adreceptacles over the projecting ends of the articles, and means for simultaneously closing both ends of the receptacles.

6. In a machine for packaging articles in tubular receptacles, an intermittently rotating conveyor for the articles, means for advancing the receptacles over the ends of the articles and into the-conveyor during a stationary position thereof, means for centering the articles in the receptacles during a subsequent stationary position of the conveyor, and means for closing the ends of the receptacle during rotary movement of the conveyor.

'7. In a machine for packaging articles in tubular receptacles, an intermittently rotating conveyor, means for feeding the articles to said conveyor in predetermined numbers, means for advancing the receptacle over the ends of the articles and into the conveyor, during a stationary position of the latter, means for centering the articles in the receptacle during a subsequent stationary position of the conveyor, and means for closing the ends of the receptacle during subsequent rotary movement of the conveyor.

8. In a machine for packaging drinking straws, an intermittently rotating conveyor for carrying segregated groups of the straws, means for form ing continuous tubular wrapping material and enveloping the ends of the group of straws in its advance movement toward the latter and during a stationary position of the conveyor, means for ly advancing it a greater axial speed to a position centered in the conveyor and about the straws,

means for holding the wrapped straws in the conveyor, means for intermittently rotating the conveyor, means operated during a stationary position of the conveyor beyond the wrapping position to center the straws in the wrapper, and means operated by rotary movement of the conveyor to close simultaneously both ends of the wrapper projecting outside the holding means.

9. In a machine for packaging drinking straws, an intermittently rotating conveyor comprising a cylindrical member having uniformly spaced longitudinally disposed grooves in the peripheral surface, a hopper to supply straws to said grooves, means disposed at the ends of the cylinder to partly close the ends of the grooves and support the ends of a predetermined number of straws in each groove as it passes, means for forming a continuous tubular receptacle and advancing it h of the wrappers during rotary movement of the conveyor, and means operating beyond the holding means to eject the wrappers from the grooves during subsequent rotary movement of the conveyor.

10. In a machine for packaging drinking straws, the combination of means for forming a continuous tubular wrapper, means for severing the wrapper in predetermined lengths during axial movement thereof and thereafter adyancing the severed wrapper at an increased axial speed ove the straws to be wrapped.

vanced over said ends, means for advancingt 11. In a machine for packaging drinking 7 straws, the combination of means for forming a continuous tubular wrapper, shears for severing the wrapper in lengths during axial movement thereof, means for operating the shears, and means for reciprocating the shears axially of the moving wrapper to project the length of wrapper at a speed greater than normal movement of the wrapper from the forming means.

12. In a machine for packaging drinking straws, the combination of a rotary conveyor having longitudinal grooves to carry the straws in groups, a segmental plate at opposite ends of the conveyor to partly close the ends of the grooves to support the ends of the straws to prevent more than a predetermined number from being contained in the grooves, and a plate adjustably carried by each of the first plates to project completely over the ends of the grooves to exclude the straws from said grooves.

13. In a machine for packaging drinking straws, means for forming a tubular receptacle and advancing the' same to envelop the project-. ing ends of the straws held in stationary posi tion, means for completing the movement of the receptacle over the straws at an increased rate of speed, and means for closing the end of the receptacle.

14. In a machine for packaging straws or similar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge of such articles, and means for forming a. wrapper for such articles, said wrapper forming means being active to propel the formed wrapper into encompassing relation to the charge.

15. In a machine for packaging straws. or similar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge comprising a plurality of such articles, and means for simultaneously forming a vrapper for such articles and for forcing the 'wrapper, after being formed, into encompassing relation to the charge.

16. In a machine for packagingstraws or similar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge of such articles, and means for continuously forming a wrapper for such articles, formed portions of the wrapper, during the continuous formation, being forced over the charge.

17. In a machine for packaging straws or sim ilar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge of such articles, and means for continuously forming a wrapper for such articles and advancing the continuously formed wrapper over, after it has been formed, the charge.

18. In a machine for packaging straws or similar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge of such articles, and means for continuously forming a wrapper for such articles and successively advancing the formed portions of the wrapper over successive charges.

19. In a machine for packaging straws or sim ilar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge of such articles, means for forming a wrapper for such articles, said wrapper forming means being active to propel the wrapper after its formation into encompassing relation to the charge, and means for cutting the formed tubular wrapper to predetermined lengths while efiecting the encompassing action. 1

20.. In a machine for packaging straws or similar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge of such articles, means for simultaneously forming a wrapper for such articles and forcing the formed portions of the wrapper into encompassing relation to the charge, and means for cutting the formed tubular wrapper to predetermined lengths while efiecting' the encompassing action.

21.- In a machine for packaging straws or similar articles, the combination of means for forming a charge of such articles, means for forming a wrapper for such articles, formed portions of the wrapper, during the formation thereof, being forced over the charge, and means for severing the formed tubular member into predetermined lengths while being forced over successive charges.

22. The method of wrapping straws or similar articles in tubular containers which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, positioning a charge of such articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, and encompassing the charge in the advancing container.

23. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, positioning charges of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charges in the advancing container, and severing the advancing container into predetermined lengths.

24, The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, positioning charges of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charges in the advancing container, and severing the advancing container into predetermined lengths as each charge is encompassed by the advancing container.

25. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of continuously formingand advancing the tubular container, position-' ing charges of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charges in the advancing container, and severing the ad- I vancing container into predetermined lengths after each charge has been partly encompassed by the advancing container.

26. The method of filling tubular containers -which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, positioning a charge of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charge in the advancing container, and severing a predetermined length of the advancing container.

27. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, positioning a charge of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charge in the advancing container, .and severing a predetermined length of the advancing container after it has encompassed the charge.

28. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: advancingthe tubular container, positioning a charge of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, supporting the advancing container, and encompassing the charge in the supported advancwhich includes the steps of: continuously Iorming and advancing the tubular container, positioning a charge of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charge in the advancing container, and arranging the charge in a predetermined relation within the container.

30. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: advancing the tubular container, positioning a charge of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, supporting the advancing container, encompassing the charge in the supported advancing container, and arranging the charge in a predetermined relation within the container.

31. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, positioning a charge of articles. in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charge in the advancing container, severing the advancing container into predetermined lengths, and arranging the charge in a predetermined relation within the container. Y

32. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of continuously formingand advancing the tubular container, successively positioning charges of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charges in the advancing container, successively severing predetermined lengths of the advancing container as each charge is encompassed by the advancing container, and arranging the charge in apredetermined relation within the container.

33. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, successively positioning charges of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charges in the advancing container, successively severing predetermined lengths of the advancing container after each charge is encompassed by the advancing container, and arranging the charge in a predetermined relation within the container.

34. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, successively positioning charges of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charges in the advancing container,

j successively severing predeterminedlengths of the advancing container after each charge has been partly encompassed by the advancing container, arranging the charge in a predetermined relation within the container, and closing the ends of the container.

36. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, successively positioning charges of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charges in the advancing container, successively severing predetermined lengths of the advancing container after each charge has been partly encompassed by the advancing container, arranging the charge in a predetermined relation within the container,-

and simultaneously closing both ends of the container.

.wrapper ends.

44. In a machine for packaging articleathel 37. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular'container, positioning a charge of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charge in the advancing container, severing a predetermined length of the advancing container, and advancing the severed length over the charge at greater speed than that of the continuously advancing container. I

38. The method of filling tubular containers which includes the steps of: continuously forming and advancing the tubular container, positioning a charge of articles in the path of the advancing tubular container, encompassing the charge in the advancingcontainer, severing a predetermined length of the advancing container after it has encompassed the charge, and advancing the severed length over the charge at greater speed than that of the continuously advancing container.

39. In a. machinefor packaging articles in tubular containers including means for supportin and feeding the tubular container in one direction, and supply means for the articles including a feeding device for positioning the articles in the path of movement of the tubular container, the feeding and supply means being constructed so that the articles are retained by the device and automatically become enveloped by the supported container as the latter moves with relation to the device.

40. In a machine for packaging articles in tubular containers including means for'supporting and feeding the tubular container in one direction, and supply means for the articles including a feeding device for positioning a charge of a plurality of the articles in the path of movemerit of the tubular containers, the feeding and supply means being constructed so that the charge is retained by the device and automatically becomes enveloped by the supported container as the latter moves with relation to the 1 device.

41. In a machine for packaging articles in tubular containers including means for supporting and feeding the tubular container in one. direction, and supply means for the articles including a feeding device for positioning a charge of a plurality of the articles in the path of movement of the tubular container and transversely of which the container moves, the feeding and supply means being constructed so that the charge is retained by the device and automatically becomes enveloped" by the supporting container as the latter moves with relation to the device.

42. In a machine for packaging articles, the combination of means for forming and feeding a tubular wrapper, means for conveying the articles into position with their ends projecting to be enveloped by the' oncoming fed wrapper, means for centering the articles in the midportion of the wrapper, and means for closing the ends of the wrapper.

43. In a machine for packaging articles, th combination of means including a former for forming and feeding a tubular wrapper open at both ends, a hopper to hold the articles, means truding to be enveloped by the oncoming wrapper, and means for closing both of the combination of means for forming and feeding a tubular wrapper, a hopper to hold the articles, means for intermittently conveying the articles from the hopper into the path of the fed Wrapper with their ends protruding to be en'- veloped by the oncoming wrapper, means for centering the articles in the mid-portion of the wrapper, and means for closing the wrapper ends.

45. In a machine for packaging articles, the combination of means for forming and feeding a tubular wrapper, means for conveying thearto be enveloped by and within the wrapper after it has been formed, means for closing the- Wrapper ends, and means for ejecting the wrapped articles from the conveying means.

46. In a machine for packaging articles, the combination of means for forming and feeding a tubular wrapper, a hopper to hold the articles, means for conveying the articles into the path of the oncoming wrapper, to be en veloped by and within the wrapper after it has been formed, means for limiting the number of articles for each wrapper, and means for simultaneously closing both ends of the Wrapper.

4'7. A machine for packaging articles comprising a support, means for feeding an article to said support, means including a former for forming a blank into a container open at its opposite ends, means for feeding the open ended container over the article on the support, and means for completely closing said opposite ends of the container.

48. A machine for packaging articles comprising means including a former for forming a container open at both ends, means for positioning an article at a predetermined position, means for moving said container from said former and partially over said article, additional means for moving said container to a position in which said article is further enclosed within the boundaries of said container, and means for closing both ends of said container.

49. A machine for packaging articles, comprising means includin a former for forming a container, means for positioning an article at a predetermined position. means for moving said container from said former and partially over said article. additional means for moving said container to a position in which said article is further enclosed within the boundaries of said container. said additional means comprising a member movable over a defined path which intersects the container while on said former, and

said additional means being adapted to engage said container at a point of intersection of said path and container for moving said container to its position over said article, and means for closing both ends of said container.

50. A machine for packaging articles comprising means including a former for forming a wrapper into an open-ended container, means for moving said container part of the way from said former and over the article to be Wrapped, additional means adapted to engage the rear end of said container and move said container further over said article, and means for closing both ends of said container.

51. A machine for packaging articles comprising means including a former for forming a container, means for positioning an article adjacent said former, means for moving said container over said article, said last mentioned means comprising a member adapted to engage the rear end of said container and move said container toward said article, and means for closing both ends of said container.

52. A machine for packaging articles comprising a carrier for carrying a plurality of articles along a predetermined path, means including a former-for forming containers open at opposite ends, means for moving said containers over said articles when said articles arrive at a given position in the path along which said articles move, and means for thereafter completely closing both ends of said containers.

'53. In a packaging machine, the combination with means for forming tubular members open at their opposite ends outof wrapping material,

of means for supporting and moving a plurality of articles along a defined path, means for mov- 

